Outlook

Will Heller is one of the most athletic pitchers on the staff, and one of the few with proven college innings … One of the most reliable arms on the staff … Will fill several roles throughout the year … Has a three-pitch arsenal of a breaking ball, change-up and fastball … Will have an important role on the staff this spring and has a chance to throw a lot of innings.

Career

Made 16 career appearances, one as a starter … Struck out 26 batters in 21.0 innings for a strikeout-per-9-inning ratio of 11.14 ... Allowed just 13 hits and six earned runs for an earned run average of 2.57 … Posted a record of 3-0 with two saves. 

Sophomore Year 2021

Did not make an appearance in 2021 … Was awarded the JCCC Male Academic Athlete of the Year for 2020-21.

Sophomore Year 2020

Made five appearances, one a starter … Logged 8.1 innings and was 1-0 with two saves and nine strikeouts … Allowed six runs, four earned for a earned run average of 4.32 … Pitched the final two innings in a 7-4 win at Brookhaven, allowing two unearned runs with a strikeout to pick up his first save (2-7-20) … Was the pitcher of record in a 13-3 win over Ellsworth, allowing one hit and no runs over 1.2 innings of relief (2-17-20) … Notched his second save with an inning of scoreless relief in a 7-4 win over Southwestern (2-21-20) … Made his first start in a 6-5 win against Kirkwood (2-29-20) … Did not earn the decision after allowing four runs off four hits in 2.2 innings pitched … Matched his career high with four strikeouts … Hurled an inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts in a 10-6 loss to State Fair (3-10-20) ... Earned JCCC student-athlete academic honors in the fall 2019 semester with a 4.0 GPA ... Earned NJCAA All-Academic first-team with a 4.0 grade point average.

Freshman Year 2019

Made 11 appearances, all in relief … Finished 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.42 … Allowed just three hits and three runs in 12.2 innings of work … Had two strikeouts in an inning of relief in a 12-2 win over Ellsworth (2-13-19) … Followed with another perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts in a 15-2 win over Rockhurst JV (3-1-19) … Allowed a hit and had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings in a 14-5 win over Highland (3-22-19) … Got his first win pitching 2.1 innings in relief, allowing a hit, not runs with a season-high four strikeouts in an 18-11 win over Allen (3-3-19) … Logged a season-high 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts as the pitcher of record in a 16-9 win over Rockhurst JV (4-2-19) … Only allowed one hit and two runs with four strikeouts over his final five relief appearances ... Earned first-team NJCAA All-Academic honors with a 4.0 GPA.

High School  

Was a two-year starter for coach Ben Baier at Blue Spring South High School, Blue Springs, Mo. … Graduated 2018 … Was a second-team Missouri Class 5 All-State selection as a designated hitter/utility player following his senior year … Also earned Class 5 All-District and  All-Area as a senior … Selected honorable mention Suburban Gold All-Conference at pitcher his senior year … Voted the 2018 Blue Springs South Pitcher of the Year … Helped Blue Springs South to a 23-9 record and a third place finish in the Missouri Class 5 State Tournament his senior year … Pitched a complete game win and hit his first home run of the season in a 7-3 victory over Grain Valley in the Class 5 District 14 semifinals … The Jaguars also captured the District 14 title his junior year … Hit .365 with 32 hits,  seven doubles, a home run, 26 runs scored and 19 driven in,  and posted a 2.08 ERA, a 6-1 record and 36 strikeouts in 49 innings as a senior … As a junior, hit .289 with 24 hits, six doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 runs and 17 driven in … Was 2-0 on the mound with a 2.48 ERA and 11 strikeouts over nine innings … Earned Academic All-State his junior and senior years.

Personal  

Born William Robert Heller on Oct. 30, 1999, in Lee’s Summit, Mo. … Nicknames are Will and Will the Thrill … Son of Tim Johnson and Ruth Heller … Majoring in health science … Also recruited by Rockhurst University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, MCC-Maple Woods and State Fair Community College … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chipotle, and his favorite food is a Chipotle burrito bowl … Favorite restaurant is Kobe Steakhouse … Favorite TV shows is SportsCenter … Favorite movie is I am Legend … Favorite sports movie is The Sandlot … Favorite actor is Will Smith … Favorite music entertainer is Travis Scott … Favorite cartoon character is Dash from The Incredibles … Favorite athletes are LaBron James and Alex Bregman … Favorite sports teams are The Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs … His greatest sports moment was winning sectionals … Best player he has played against is Luke Mann, 2018 Missouri Gatorade Player of the year out of Vianney High School … A notable alumnus from his school 2008 American Idol winner David Cook.